Pacific Prince

No major issues with this hotel except for the price ($25 in Jan), stayed longer than I would have otherwise due to dramas with my supposed travel buddies followed by a bout of food poisoning. The room was clean enough (after spending 2 months in china) but had a bed bug problem (not as big an issue as I'd bought my own permethrin treated bedding). If you've been traveling a while the bath is a nice feature, and the fridge is stocked with water and beer (heineken and local), just be sure to check the prices before you help yourself. Can't comment on the breakfast as I wasn't interested in food while staying here (by the by, don't eat at maxx's cafe down the road). The receptionist speaks very good english and will always rip you off with a smile on her face. I too was sent here from the airport, they obviously take a cut.

Noticing a trend - we were also recommended the hotel by the airport information after they told us everything would be full - which was obviously not true after seeing how many hotels Hanoi has to offer! Pacific Prince is in SERIOUS need of renovations and at $28 per night it is seriously overpriced, but having said that, they organised our tour to Halong Bay on the Imperial Cruise - and it was everything they promised! The boat and bungalows on Cat Ba Island were straight out of the extremely tempting brochure. We were very happy with the tour and feel it was money very well spent. Upon return to Hanoi, the hotel allowed us to relax and freshen up before catching a very late train out of Hanoi and we werent expected to pay a cent.

We stayed here for a couple of nights after airport staff recommended it and organised a taxi to the door for us, meaning we avoided all the taxi/hotel touts at Hanoi airport. The hotel is central to the old quarter, the cathedral and the lake and is in a safe street with lots of Vietnamese places to eat nearby. The best thing about this hotel is the staff, they are extremely helpful and their English is very good. They organised train and bus tickets for us and even allowed us to leave our bags with them and use a shower on a day we weren't staying at the hotel. I feel happy to recommend this place to other backpackers.